The Hybrid-Powered 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring Is a Mixed Bag on the Road

The driving expertise is a blended bag

We know this powertrain is extra productive in the metropolis, but regrettably, our initial travel was just about completely on the freeway. And right away, we encountered some undesirable mannerisms. The to start with hill pressured the engine to dig deep, trying to keep the revs pinned and introducing a significantly less-than-stellar motor observe into the cabin. Any time we ended up fulfilled with an incline, the engine felt overworked to source ability.

Items failed to get far better on the descents either. It can be wonderful that Honda incorporates variable brake regeneration with the hybrid powertrain, but when the battery is amassing electricity (likely downhill, for case in point) the whine from the electric powered motor is loud — truly loud. We essentially believed it was the engine kicking again on, but indeed it was the e-motor making its presence recognized. A hybrid powertrain is supposed to be seamless and peaceful. A lot more typically than not, the CR-V Sport Touring was neither of people two issues.

And which is unlucky simply because the transient time put in on city streets was a wholly distinctive tale. From stoplight to stoplight the motor vehicle was silent and composed, paying an extraordinary total of time in electric mode. About city, this is a good car or truck to push, and the 13 additional miles for each gallon (town figure) above the gasoline-only product is a huge gain.

Edmunds claims

The great information is that Honda’s finest-promoting motor vehicle is better, with a comfortable inside and a much more lively exterior structure. The undesirable information is that we nevertheless choose the gasoline version to the hybrid. Our real-planet gasoline economy screening could possibly be persuasive adequate to adjust that quickly, but right after this hybrid very first travel, we never see adequate of a alter to propose it.